Let’s make a journey to the city administration of Minsk, Belarus, which is adjacent to the fire department and see stuff of the Ministry of Emergency Situations at work.

Within the last years the department was re-equipped completely. Thus, they were given a new set of instruments to provide aid to drivers who got in accidents. Now the drivers will be helped fast no matter where the accident takes place. The people have up to 40 calls a day in Minsk and to 120 calls in Belarus. False calls have never been noticed due to high fines and well-balanced policy aimed at revealing ‘phone terrorists’.

Reaction time to the alert is 4,5 minutes for the city and 15 minutes for a village. The standards are not always followed as many villages are still located rather far from the fire department. The only constant variable consists in the fact that the last car needs to leave the department in 45 sec after the signal is obtained.

Equipment and instruments are carefully controlled as they need to be clean and always in working condition. In case of emergency a duplicate is available so that nothing will prevent the crew from carrying out their task.

There are 25 rescuers in a crew. Their chief always follows the crew as it is him who is responsible for anything that can happen.

Rescuers have a right to use the bedroom from 10 PM to 6 AM. But in case of alarm the room will be empty in several seconds.

The sign above the door shows the numbers of departments that need to respond to the signal.

The kitchen is used only for having a meal as the people are time-limited.

The Russian samovar (a metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water) shows that tea is also drunk here from time to time.

Every member of the crew has 2 hours of free time (in case there is no emergency) which can be spent in a special room where one can look at the fishes or watch TV.